Originally published Sunday, January 27, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Man who used stun gun on toddler gets 46 months
A former Albany man has been sentenced to 46 months in prison for using a high-voltage stun gun on his 18-month-old son. Rian Wittman was arrested...
The Associated Press
ALBANY, Ore. — A former Albany man has been sentenced to 46 months in prison for using a high-voltage stun gun on his 18-month-old son.
Rian Wittman was arrested in February and agreed to a plea bargain last year. The sentence was imposed Friday.
Prosecutor Reed Dinsmore said the stun gun delivered 30,000 volts during testing.
"This is a case of a father torturing his 18-month-old son," prosecutor Reed Dinsmore said. "Why? We can't tell."
He said it's not yet known whether the child will suffer long-term nerve or neurological damage.
The prosecution said the child's mother saw marks on the boy in January 2007 and, thinking it was a rash, wanted to take him to a doctor.
But Wittman talked her out of it, Dinsmore said.
"He described to her that he used the stun gun to play peekaboo with the child," Dinsmore said. "The mother did not report the incident, and that was a mistake on her part."
After a second incident in February, she took the child to her sister's home and then to the police. Doctors at Samaritan Albany General Hospital found numerous wounds conforming to the stun gun's electrode pattern.
"I spoke to a Department of Human Services careworker who was present, and she said the look in the child's eyes will not easily be forgotten," Dinsmore said.
Defense attorney Tim Felling said Wittman believes the injuries were caused by the child's mother.
Felling said the two had argued earlier on the day the child was taken to authorities, and the mother said, "You'll be sorry" as she took the boy from the home.
Copyright © 2008 The Seattle Times Company
UPDATE - 09:46 AM
Exxon Mobil wins ruling in Alaska oil spill case
NEW - 7:51 AM
Longview man says he was tortured with hot knife
Longview man says he was tortured with hot knife
Longview mill spills bleach into Columbia River
NEW - 8:00 AM
More extensive TSA searches in Sea-Tac Airport rattle some travelers

nwautos
Turismo upgrade "Gran Turismo 5: XL Edition" for PlayStation 3 has features such as new car-tuning settings, new NASCAR vehicles, better replay video...
Post a comment
- Lakewood cop accused of embezzling $150K meant for slain officers' families
- 3 big health insurers stockpile $2.4 billion as rates keep rising
- Agency set to investigate handling of 911 call about Josh Powell
- Quick decisions: How Washington hired its new football staff
- Social worker recounts minutes before Powell fire
- Historic day for gay marriage as another fight looms
- Justin Wilcox's versatile defensive style is the right fit for Huskies | Jerry Brewer
- It's Terrence Time: Enigmatic Ross leads Huskies
- $25B settlement reached over foreclosure abuses
- Council members get briefing on arena proposal, minus details
- Gay-marriage bill passes House, awaits Gregoire's signature
492 - Wanted in Seattle classrooms: more teachers of color
384 - Council members get briefing on arena proposal, minus details
301 - AP Source: Obama to change birth control rule
289 - Oregon live game thread
155 - Worker: Josh Powell told son he had 'surprise'
108 - Rough road again
105 - USA Today further spells out how Mariners, handful of clubs next in line for huge cash windfall
74 - Marijuana legalization initiative set to go on Nov. ballot
71 - A few late-night notes
69
- Wanted in Seattle classrooms: more teachers of color
- State Medicaid program to stop paying for unneeded ER visits
- 3 big health insurers stockpile $2.4 billion as rates keep rising
- Economy, blogs give survivalists new reason to look to Northwest
- State's share of mortgage settlement: $648 million
- One man's audacious pursuit of sailing history
- Darren Berg gets 18-year sentence for Ponzi scheme
- Bellevue College adds a third bachelor's degree program
- $25B settlement reached over foreclosure abuses
- 'Gauguin and Polynesia': dazzling mix-and-match | Art review







